According to Carsurance, nearly 2.5 million Americans suffer serious injuries or become permanently disabled after a car crash. Injuries, along with property damage, can easily add up to tens of thousands of dollars for the victim, which is why it is critical to determine liability and file a personal injury claim after a collision. In order to have a convincing personal injury claim, it is advantageous to have as much evidence of the damage the crash caused as possible. A skilled San Jose attorney will help you collect the necessary documentation, but some steps you can take immediately after impact.
Photo Evidence
Before a crash scene is altered it is a wise idea to get photo evidence of what occurred. Most people travel with their phones and can easily take photos that way. If not, we recommend you keep a disposable camera in your glove box. What should you be taking photos of? We recommend the following:
- Car and property damage;
- Skid marks;
- The intersection or section of road where the crash occurred; and
- Any other damage that might have been caused to features in the area.
By taking photos you will have evidence later of the position of the cars before they are moved, the road and weather conditions at the time of the crash, and other details that may change in the minutes or days after the crash. Other photo evidence that is important to document is your injuries. For instance, if you have bruising along your legs or lacerations you will want photo evidence of those injuries immediately after. Other photo evidence that can be collected is camera footage from any nearby traffic cameras. A qualified attorney can help you collect evidence such as this.
Witness Statements and Police Reports
If you have been in a crash, you should contact the police so that they can do a crash report to document what happened. At that time they will likely ask for witness statements. One thing you can do is ask witnesses to stick around on the scene until the police arrive, or collect their contact information. If you are too injured to remain on the scene you can ask another person to stay behind on your behalf. This is also the time you will want to collect the other driver’s name, driver’s license number, and insurance information.
Medical Records
The injuries you sustained during the car crash might have required an ambulance trip to the emergency room, but even if your injuries were minor it is still important you see a doctor after the crash. You may have injuries that you didn’t initially notice at the scene, such as whiplash, because of the adrenaline and stress of the situation. Furthermore, you will want medical records to document all of the injuries from the crash because this is further evidence in a personal injury claim.
Contact The Solution Now Law Firm Today
According to the California Department of Insurance, any crash causing injuries or property damage over $750 must be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days. During this time you will also want to contact your insurance company. If you are facing serious injuries, all of these steps may seem overwhelming. The experienced San Jose personal injury attorneys at the Solution Now Law Firm can help you through the insurance process so that you can focus your attention on recovering from the traumatic event. Contact our offices to schedule a free consultation today.
